The Jewel Trilogy - a review

The Jewel Trilogy by Halle Bridgeman follows the lives of three half-sisters who rise from a traumatic childhood of poverty and abuse to be strong, independent women of faith. I really enjoyed reading this series about Robin, Maxine and Sarah. It is actually a four book set with a ‘novella’ called ‘Far Above Rubies’ thrown in for good measure between Robin’s and Maxine’s stories.

Sapphire Ice is the story of the eldest, Robin. She was her sisters’ protector when they were children and continues this on into adult life, sometimes going overboard with her stubbornness and self reliance. It takes a handsome businessman named Tony Viscolli to soften her icy exterior and make her realize that love – both God’s and his – can give her the peace she has always craved.

Emerald Fire is Maxine’s story. This was my favorite of the series, probably because I like Maxine’s character the best. She is fun and feisty, despite her traumatic childhood. The book starts off when she jumps into an unplanned Vegas wedding and the ride continues from there. With lots of complications, and plenty of disapproval from friends and family, can she and her new hubby make a real marriage out of this impulsive act?

Topaz Heat chronicles the life of the youngest sister, Sarah. She unconsciously blocked all her childhood memories and only has her sisters’ testimony about the horrors they faced. She comes off as a bit self righteous in previous books, but by this time the reader is totally invested in the characters. We find out that beneath the surface she is just as broken as her siblings. When she finally falls for the man of her dreams, accusations from his shady past threaten to keep them apart forever.

As I mentioned, ‘Far Above Rubies’ squeezes itself in between Sapphire Ice and Emerald Fire. It is basically the story of Robin and Tony’s wedding and the struggles they face right up until they say ‘I do.’ It definitely helps to round out the cast, but was probably my least favorite just because of the detailed descriptions. Some readers are sure to enjoy this, however, since author Hallee Bridgeman is an expert at creating believable environments with lots of sensory imagery.

I highly recommend this series. Hallee Bridgeman is an author to watch in my view and I will definitely be reading more of her books in future.